In the book ‘Walden’ noted transcendentalist author Henry Thoreau recalls his solitary days in woods aloof from ‘madding crowds’. For Thoreau those days were of spiritual discovery, declaration identity, peace and independence.
If not on the same lines, Chandrasekhara Gowda from Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka, found abode in woods before 13 years when was debt trapped and lost all what he had except a Fiat ‘Padmini’ car. After the bank confiscated his 2.29 acres of farmland, he decided to withdraw from mainstream so as to lead life in isolation.
Image Courtesy: Tekegraph
Reports says that he had borrowed Rs 27,400 from a Co-operative bank in 1999. However, when his debt arrears doubled the initial amount in 2003, the bank stopped being ‘cooperative’ and confiscated his farmland. Finding only a damned life and the Fiat Padmini as possessions Gowda drove into a forest that is 21 kilometers away from Sullia town. He has been staying in the car for the last 13 years.
Recently, a farmer from Wayanad district in Kerala was condemned to prison by a court there as he failed to remit back debt arrears. The alleged defaulter – Sukumaran had secured an agricultural bank loan of Rs 90,000 from a Grameen Bank after submitting a bank guarantee of 50 cents of his land. Quoting an amount of Rs 5.77 lakhs as Sukumaran’s debt arrears, the bank issued an execution petition against him in 2015 following which he was imprisoned. Following protest from various quarters, he was later freed.
Gowda, however, managed to escape harsh realities to find solace in the woods. Though deputy commissioner (DC) of Dakshina Kannada district, A B Ibrahim recently offered Gowda treatment, accommodation and job for life sustenance, he turned down the offered and preferred to stay back in the woods.
Gowda has found a livelihood in woods by weaving baskets using raw materials that he collects from the forest. He walks to 21 km far Sullia town for selling the baskets.
